Dream Foundation to Fulfill Terminal Navy Veteran’s Final Wish to
Revisit Battleship He Served on During Korean War

On the 60th anniversary year marking the end of the Korean War, the
wish-granting organization — along with Hardee’s® — will
provide Gerald Bowman a nostalgic visit aboard the USS Laffey at
Patriots Point, South Carolina

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This Friday, March 1, Dream Foundation — the first and largest national
wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering
life-threatening illness — will fulfill Gerald Bowman’s dream to walk
the decks of the battleship he called home during the Korean War – 60
years since his last tour.

With a prognosis of less than one year due to advanced stage heart
disease, Bowman, an 82-year old Elkins, Arkansas, resident and Korean
War Veteran, will take his daughter — also his consummate caregiver — on
a momentous journey through history. Together they’ll travel to Mount
Pleasant, South Carolina, to board the (DD-724) Allen M. Sumner-class
destroyer where Bowman served as Machinist Mate for more than three
years. The pair will receive a private tour and luncheon, as well as the
opportunity to meet with the press and record an oral history interview,
which will be archived at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum for
future generations. The USS Laffey is now a National Historic Landmark
ship.

At 10 a.m., Friday, March 1, Bowman
and his daughter will arrive at Patriots Point, where he’ll receive a
warm welcome and participate in the following activities:

10:30 a.m. – Board the USS Laffey and walk the decks
uninterrupted. Proceed to dedicated interview area to meet with
members of the press.

11:00 a.m. – Receive a special VIP tour of the USS Laffey,
including the working and living spaces where he spent time as a
crewmember.

12:00 p.m. – Enjoy a special private luncheon aboard the ship.

12:45 p.m. – Record an oral history interview.

Dream Foundation will be providing airfare for Bowman and his daughter
from Fort Smith, AR, to Charleston, SC, as well as financial assistance
for their five-day stay. The Hampton Inn Mt. Pleasant-Patriots Point has
generously donated hotel accommodations.

“We were recently watching a television special about Dad’s naval ship,
the USS Laffey, and how they were docking her at Patriots Point,”
Bowman’s daughter, Kim Billings, writes in an application letter to
Dream Foundation. “He became so excited and started telling me stories
and said, ‘Oh how I would love to walk her again.’ He told me he could
even show me which top bunk was his.”

According to Dream Foundation spokesperson Erinn Lynch, “Truly, it is an
honor for us to serve those who have so bravely served our country. Mr.
Bowman’s final wish is a testament to his patriotism and sense of duty.
We are proud to share this momentous occasion with Hardee’sand
our national dream host volunteers.”

Bowman had served in the United States Navy from 1950-1954. Upon being
recruited, he reported to San Diego, where the USS Laffey sat in a dry
dock shipyard and his task was to assist in repairing the damage it had
sustained during World War II. Two months later, he accompanied the
battleship out to sea, where his service included three tours in Korea.

“Part of our mission at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is to
honor the brave men and women who have answered our nation’s call —
heroes like Mr. Bowman,” said Patriots Point Executive Director Mac
Burdette. “Through our efforts each day, we are working to educate
visitors about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and we are
keeping their stories alive. It is our distinct honor to welcome Mr.
Bowman back aboard his beloved ship, the USS Laffey; and we are proud to
partner with Dream Foundation and the Stars for Heroes program in this
endeavor.”

As Dream Foundation serves the final wishes of adults nationwide from
one small office in Santa Barbara, the organization works with its
corporate “Partners in Dreams” and affiliated volunteers to ensure dream
experiences maintain a personal touch and sense of community. CKE
Restaurants, Inc. — parent company of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’sbrands
— has been a longtime partner with Dream Foundation and pledges
additional support to serve the final dreams of U.S. veterans as part of
their Stars for Heroes™ campaign.

“As part of our ongoing effort to support a cause that is important to
our customers, employees and franchisees, it’s our pleasure to partner
with Dream Foundation through our Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign
to help rally behind our nation’s veterans and fulfill their final
dreams,” said Jenna Petroff, public relations manager for Hardee’sand
Stars for Heroesprogram administrator. “We’re honored Dream
Foundation chose us to present Gerald with his dream package at his home
in Arkansas, as well as accompany him on his tour of the USS Laffey. Our
franchisees and employees are excited to celebrate this dream with him.”

According to Dream Foundation, the CKE Restaurants partnership not only
helps fund the veteran segment of their dream service demographic, it
enhances the experience for the dreamer and all who are involved.

About Dream Foundation

Founded in 1994, the mission of Dream Foundation is to enhance the
quality of life for individuals and their families battling
life-threatening illness. Dream recipients are 18 years and older and
have been given a limited prognosis of a year or less. Dreams range from
basic needs items, like a comfortable chair in which to rest, to family
vacations with children. With more than 2,000 anticipated dream requests
for 2012, Dream Foundation relies on donations of cash, airline miles
and other resources to make dreams come true. Dream Foundation maintains
a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator. For more information visit www.dreamfoundation.org.

About Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Patriots Point, on the Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, SC, is home
of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and a fleet of National
Historic Landmark ships, including the USS Yorktown, USS Laffey and USS
Clamagore and the only Vietnam Support Base Camp in the U.S. Patriots
Point is also headquarters to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
and the agency’s official Medal of Honor Museum. As an agency, the Naval
& Maritime Museum strives to preserve the living history of our nation’s
bravest men and women while telling their stories in honorable,
educational and engaging ways. Stay up to date on what’s happening at
Patriots Point by visiting www.patriotspoint.org
and ‘liking’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PatriotsPoint.org.

About Hardee’s

Celebrating more than 50 years in the quick-service industry, Hardee’s
Food Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of
Carpinteria, Calif. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2013,
the Company, through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,292 franchised
or company operated restaurants in 42 states and in 27 countries,
including 1,349 Carl’s Jr.® restaurants and 1,936 Hardee’s restaurants.
For more information, or to find a Hardee’s near you, go to www.hardees.com.
Hardee’s social media sites include www.facebook.com/hardees,
www.twitter.com/hardees
and www.youtube.com/hardees.
For more information on the Stars for Heroes program, visit www.facebook.com/StarsforHeroes.